'Tis the Season for Christmas Shows : Television: Fictional characters and religious leaders present the message of the holidays; music specials ring in Yule, too.

By STEVEN HERBERT

Dec. 24, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

George Bailey, Ebenezer Scrooge, Pope John Paul II, Michael Jordan and Bob Costas are among the fictional characters and real people who will be appearing on Christmas-themed programming the next two days.

Religious: Programming includes a service from Atlanta’s Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip (11:35 p.m. tonight on CBS, Channel 2; 11:30 p.m., Channel 8); and Pope John Paul II celebrating midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City (12:05 a.m. Wednesday, Channels 4, 36 and 39).

Music: KCET Channel 28 presents the 32nd annual Los Angeles county holiday program from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center live today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The two-hour finale will be rebroadcast Christmas Day from 3-5 p.m.

Johnny Carson and regulars from “The Tonight Show” offer holiday readings, with a 120-voice choir (11:35 p.m. tonight, Channels 4, 36 and 39). “Night of Nights,” a musical pageant featuring a 40-piece orchestra, a 300-voice choir, a cast of 600 and a gathering of live sheep, donkeys and camels at midnight tonight on Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42.

Movies: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which stars James Stewart as George Bailey, the head of a troubled building and loan, airs today at 5 p.m. on KAGL Channel 30 and WGN; 6 p.m. on American Movie Classics; 7 p.m. on KTLA Channel 5; 10:30 p.m. on KCET Channel 28; 11 p.m. on the Family Channel; and Christmas Day at 1 a.m. on the Disney Channel and USA; 7 a.m. and 4 a.m. on American Movie Classics; 6:30 p.m. on KDOC Channel 56 and 7:30 p.m. on KCAL Channel 9.

Scrooge, the 19th-Century London businessman whose cost-containment measures would undoubtedly be envied by contemporary managers, can be seen in the 1938 version of “A Christmas Carol,” at 10 tonight on the Movie Channel and Christmas Day at 10 a.m. on Showtime and 11:30 a.m. on Cinemax. Reginald Owen stars.

Scrooge gets title billing in the 1951 adaptation, starring Alastair Sim, and airing tonight at 8 on WGN and KTTY Channel 69 in San Diego and Christmas Day at 11 a.m. on KTLA Channel 5.

Bravo presents the 1977 British Broadcasting Corp. production of “A Christmas Carol” at 5 p.m. Christmas Day.

Parades: On the Christmas Day parade front, promotional opportunities abound at “The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade” (7 a.m., Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42). Joan Lunden of “Good Morning America” and Regis Philbin of “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee” host. Among those scheduled to participate are characters from ABC’s “Dinosaurs” and President Bush, who will give a greeting.

KTLA Channel 5 reruns the 60th annual Hollywood Christmas Parade at 9 a.m. and KTTV presents the South Gate Christmas Parade at noon.

Sports: NBC (Channels 4, 36 and 39) turns over portions of Christmas afternoon and evening to the NBA. At 12:30 p.m., the Clippers play host to the Lakers. Marv Albert, Mike Fratello and Joel Meyers report. At 6 p.m. the Boston Celtics visit Michael Jordan and the NBA champion Chicago Bulls. Bob Costas, Steve Jones and Quinn Buckner will be courtside.

ABC (Channels 7, 3, 10 and 42) presents a Christmas Day college football doubleheader beginning at 9 a.m. with the Kelly Tire Blue-Gray All-Star Game, followed at 12:30 p.m. with the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl between No. 17 Stanford (8-3) and Georgia Tech (7-5).

Prime Ticket airs a marathon of “Baseball’s Greatest Games” from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m., including the opening game of the 1988 World Series (8 p.m.) and the sixth game of the 1975 World Series (10 p.m.).

CBS (Channels 2 and 8) eschews parades and sports in favor of reruns Christmas Day. “J.T.,” the 1969 Peabody Award-winning tale of a boy (Kevin Hooks) living in the inner-city who learns responsibility through caring for a wounded cat, airs at 11 a.m. “The Homecoming: A Christmas Story,” the 1971 made-for-TV movie that was later spun off to CBS’ long-running series, “The Waltons,” can be seen at 1 p.m. Richard Thomas stars as John-Boy Walton, a role he continued in the series, but several of the other family members did not continue with the series, including Patricia Neal and Edgar Bergen.

Radio: A marathon of holiday-themed programs from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s will air from 6 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Christmas Day on KPCC-FM (89.3). KABC-AM (790) personalities perform “A Christmas Carol” from 7 to 9 tonight. On “The Six-Shooter,” at 9 tonight on KNX-AM (1070), Britt (James Stewart) entertains a young boy, depressed about the holidays, with a story about the “Christmas Carol.”

On Christmas Day, even more more versions of “A Christmas Carol” will be presented. The Lionel Barrymore edition airs at noon on KCRW-FM (89.9), while at 1 p.m. on KPCC-FM (89.3), Jonathan Winters narrates and performs all the male roles in Charles Dickens’ tale. Mimi Kennedy co-stars.

Zero Mostel reads Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” at 2:30 p.m. on KCRW-FM (89.9).